Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-05-26

and Jaller. NO doubt as to the truth
of Lady Perth's assertions came to her
simple mind. If she had been more
shrewd-more worldly wise, she would
have known that Lady Perth had
grossly exaggerated; but the terrible
spectre of fear pursued her-"a
divorce"
She must go, II she meant to go at
all, before Lord Stair returned. An
other fear came to her. Ii she went
alone IL was very probable that Lady
Perth would say she had gone 20 her
lover; she had advised her to do so.
She would go, but she would take her
maid with her. She was too frightened
to unnervcd to go alone. The light
was fading now from the sky--it was
nearly four O'Clock; in half an hour the
thick darkness of a winters afternoon
would be over the land.
There was just light for her to dis
tinguish the time. Her little jeweled
watch, present from Lord Stair, lay
on the table near her; she took it up;
twenty minutes OF four. She remem-
bered that a train left CliAe at five;
that would give them time to walk to
the station, and she would be gone two
hours before her husband returned at
seven.
She rang the bell for her maid, and
Phoebe Askeron came in, looking with
wonder at her young mistress. She
stood leaning against the mantel-
shelf, the fire-Gght touching her dress
of blue velvet, her golden hair, the
diamonds in her locket-for she wore
the present "Set in Diamonds'-the
white hands, all with flame.
'Close the door, Phoebe said Lady
Stair. "fou are sure there is no one
here to listen?'
No one, my lady" replied the maid,
with some surprise; there is no one
near"
Lady Stair went up to her maid, and
laid one white, trembling hand on her
arm.
"Phpbe," she said, ''you nave
always been good faithful servant to
me; you have always protested great
devotion to me. | want to test it."
Il will do anything foryou, my lady"
was the prompt reply, anything in the
wide world"
Il am in most bitter trouble" said
Lady stair. Il want you to help me;
you must be quick, silent, and true"
II will my LADY," and Lady Stair
knew by the tone of her voice that her
maid was to be relied upon.
Il am going away" she said, land
you must 20 with me. | must go by
the train that leaves Clifie at five. If
we are quick we shall have time"
Phoebe AskerOn looked rather start
led.
"Golng' my lady; going away! viii
you not wait at least, until my lord
comes home?"
NO, something has happened.
must GO before lie comes, or | shall
never go at all. Say quickly, will you
help me or not will you go with ME
or not: / have not one moment to
lose"
IL will go with you my lady, to the
end of the world" replied the girl.
THANK You. Give me pen and ink,
Phoebe; | must leave letter"
AS she bent over the writing desk,
the light playing on her golden hair
and on the diamonds that shOne round
the locket, a thought came to Phoebe
Askeron that surely her mistress would
not travel with those valuable da-
monds around her neck; but she did
not speak about it: and who shall say
what impulse kept her silent? Whether
it was Providence, or fate, or one
Of those strange condolences that hap
pen no one knows. She said no word,
and Lady Stair wrote ner letter. IL
was very brief, and said simply:
Il have left You forever. You will
hear the story when l am gone. 1t
seems to me- useless to speak of nv
innocence: you must think and Judge
as you wil-Heaven knows. Good
bye. Thank yon for all your kindness.
| would rather be tortured to death
than go through the divorce court.
There is no help for me. Goodbye.
MARGUERITE.
The lines were hurridly written. and
she, in her hurry. lid not see that
they could be interpreted almost as
q confession of guilt. She folded the
letter. placed it in an envelope, and
addressed it To Lord Stair.
''Some one will be sure to take it to
him." she said To herself.
She looked at her watch again. Short
as the letter was she had spent nearly
ten minutes writing it. and the train
left at five. If she did not want to be
caught and made prisoner in her own
house, she must go by that. Every
nerve thrilled with fcarwhen she sa W
how time had flown.
"Oh Phpbe. haste1." she cried. II
am sorely afraid"
''Here is your watch, my lady" said
the maid
"Wear it Yourself. L have not time
TO put it on. You can give it to me.
afterward, and, Phoebe, have no safe
pocket in this dress, take my purse, it
is in the small drawer to the left-is it
full?''
''lt seems to be quite full of gold, my
lady," answered Phoebe.
1t was large purse, made of Russian
lether, and was fastened with gold
clasp. On the clasp was engraved the
monogrom NJ. s. for Marguerite Stair.
The purse also was present from
Lord S:air.
Phoebe placed it in her pocket; the
darkness Of night was falling fast and
Lady Stair stood by, ready dressed,
with plain dark shawl and plain bon
net.
''Let us make haste" she said; "every
moment is gold Oh Phoebe, be quick.
We need not pass through the house
we must not. Lady Perth will hear us,
and she must not know. See, we can
pass from these open glass doors across
the garden and the lawn, on to the park.
We must leave the house without any
one knowing"
"But my lady," cried the girl, Il
must dress-I can not go without bon
not OF shawl. imust go to my room; /
will not be long"
Lady Stair clasped her hands in
despair.
"Oh, Phoebe, you will ruin me-you